Unit 1: Young Worker Injuries Dept of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences School of Public Health University of Washington WA State Department of Labor & Industries

John’s Story Age: 17 Job: Fast food worker Injury: Slipped on greasy floor Why do you think this happened? What could have prevented John from getting hurt? Note: This was a real incident reported by the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health Slide 1

Antonio’s Story Age: 17 Job: Construction Helper Injury: Fell from roof Why do you think this happened? What could have prevented Antonio from getting hurt? Note: This was a real incident reported by the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health Slide 2

Keisha’s Story Age: 16 Job: Computer data entry Injury: Repetitive stress Why do you think this happened? What could have prevented Keisha from getting hurt? Note: This was a real incident reported by the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health Slide 3

Dakota’s Story Age: 17 Job: Landscaping Worker Injury: Death Why do you think this happened? What could have prevented Dakota from being Killed? Note: This was a real incident reported by the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health Slide 4

National Data On average 55–70 teens* die on the job/year major causes: motor vehicles homicide agricultural machines 30–50% worked in family’s business Nearly 230,000 teens suffer work related injuries nationwide each year 64,000 work injuries among teens treated in emergency rooms each year *<18 years old Slide 5

Washington State Data 2000–2008 13,568 work related injuries (11–17 yr-olds) Teens injured at a rate two times higher than adults (state and national data) 6% 14–15 year-olds 44% females 94% 16–17 year-olds 56% males Slide 6

Washington State Data 2000–2008 13,568 work related injuries Most Common Injuries (75% of injuries) Serious Injuries Heat stroke Head injuries Amputations Concussions Multiple injuries Dislocations Broken bones 10 Other Cuts 16 26% 33 33% 77 94 9% 104 Burns* 12% 20% 464 Sprains Bruises 0 100 200 300 400 500 * chemical and thermal Slide 7

Workplace Fatalities of Teens Washington State 1988–2008 (17 fatalities: 15 male, 2 female) Agricultural machinery rollover or MV crash (6) suffocation in grain silo (2) drowning in irrigation ditch (1) Construction or Maintenance struck by falling objects (3) fall from roof (1) machinery roll-over (1) Food Service includes a stabbing at a fast food restaurant (3) Slide 8

Teen Injuries by Industry (%) Washington State 2000–2008 Wholesale trade Arts & entertainment Manufacturing Health care, social services Construction Agriculture Retail trade Hospitality & food service 2.3% 3.2% 3.3% 4.2% 5% 6% 21% 37% Slide 9